Steam-trap.



e. M. HILGBB..

STEAM TRAP. APPLATION FILED JULY 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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GEORGE MICHAEL HILGER, Ol" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-TRAP.

T o all whom it 'may concer/n:

Be it known that I, Geenen MICHAEL HILGER., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Steam 'I`rap, of which the following is a full7 clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to steam traps.

An object of the invention is to produce a steam trap which shall be of simple construction and positive in its action.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the main outlet valve will operate in daily use to maintain itself ground upon its seat, and to provide improved means for adjusting the seat of the pilot valve which controls the operation of the main valve.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying` drawing forming' a part of this speciiication, in which the ligure is a vertical section through a steam trap constructed according to my invention.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the body of the trap which is in the form of a cylindrical shell having a rounded upper end or dome 2. This body 1 is seated upon a base 3 ha fing a chamber el therein. The arts 1 and 3 are attached together by means of bolts 5 passing through flanges 6 formed on the body and on the base, andy between these flanges there is clamped. rigidly a diaphragm 7 having' circumferential corrugations 8, as shown. dit the central point of this diaphragm, a weight 9 is attached on the under side, and disposed within the chamber Ai. This weight is attached by means of a bolt 1t), the upper portion of which is formed into a knuckle 11 for the attachment of a valve stern 12 which extends upwardly in the trap for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

On its left side the shell is formed with a vertical duct 13 which leads downwardly from an inlet opening 1.4, which openingl 1li is disposed at the dome 2, as shown. This duct 13 communicates with an openingl 15 formed in the clamped portion of the diaphragm, and also communicates with. a duct 16 which leads from this point to the charnber 4. The dome 2 is provided on the cen- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18,

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

1908. Serial N0. 444,222

y tral axis of the shell 1. with a threaded nipple 17, at the lower end of which a suction tube l 1S is provided. This tube extends downi wardly within the trap and surrounds the valve stein 12, as shown. '.lo the nipple 17 a valve body 19 attached, said valve body having,r a removable valve seat 2() in the form of a plug, which screws into the threaded bore 21 of the valve body, as indicated, The lower end of this plugf 2() is formed into a conical seat to receive the conical end ol a. needle or valve head 22 which is attached to the upper end of the stem 12. The upper end of the plug is oi'ilarged so as to form a projecting head with an annular shoulder 23. Under this head a plurality oll washers 24 are placed, and the number ol' these` washers used determines the position of the conical seat for the valve head or needle 22. The valve 19 is of cylindrical form and if: closed at its upper end by a removable plug' or cap 25. Frein the side of the valve body 19, a pipe 26 extends and this pipe leads to a main valve casing 27. The valve $3 within 'i s easing;` is operated through the medium of the valve 22 so that the valve 22 may be considered as a pilot valve. On tire rig'lt side of trie shell l, a vertical duct 28 is formed in the wall of the body, and communicates with the interior of the trap just above tie diaphragm 7. In the upper portion of the casing 27 an outlet 29 is formed from this duct 2S, and at t'iis outlet, the valve easing 27 is attached. The valve 27 has a substantially cylindrical body 30, the upper end of which is closed by a removable cap 3l. Near the middle portion of the body 30, a valve seat 32 is formed, upon which tiere is seated a valve 33. This vaive extends` downwardly through the valve opening' and is formed with a guide stem 3ft which is provided vvith flutes S5 of helical form for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Trie lower end of the stein 34 i` formed into a plain cylindrical neck 36 wi ,il seats in the bore in the piston 37, said piston beingl slidably mounted in the lower portion of the valve body, indicated. This piston is provided with. a vertically disposed vent 3S through which comnlunication is made from the lower side to the upper side of the piston. T he lower end of the valve 27 is closed by a removable cap head 39, and to this cap i1 ard he aforesaid pipe 26 is attached, as shown. The valve body is provided witl'-L an outlet 40 just below the valve 33 and to this outlet the delivery pipe 41 is attached. To the inlet opening 14, a feed pipe 42 is attached which conducts the water of condensation to the trap.

The mode of operation of the steam trap will now be described: The water of condensation enterstlie trap by the pipe 42 and descends by the duct 13 into the chamber 4. ln this connection it should be observed that the pipe 42 does not project into the trap sufficiently to cover the upper end of this duet. The pressure of this water on the under side of the diaphragm 7 assists in maintaining the valve head 22 upon its seat. After the duct 13 and the chamber 4 have become 'filled with water, the water commences to accumulate in the interior of the body 1 above the diaphragm. Vllzen the weight of this water above the diaphragm becomes sufficient it will depress the diaphragm 7 and open the valve 19 by drawing the stem 12 downwardly. The water then passes upwardly through the plug 2O and through the pipe 26 to the under side of the piston 37. This raises the piston, which raises the valve 33, and a vflow of water then takes place from the body through the duct 28. After passing the valve 33 this water iinds outlet through the delivery pipe 41. In passing the valve 33 the helical form of the ilutes 35 operates in suoli a way that the current of water will rotate the valve 33. ln this way it will always come upon its seat by a rotary movement which tends to grind the valve and keep it fitting nicely upon its seat. Whenever the position of the valve seat or plug 2() is to be changed or adjusted to suit the needle 22, it is only necessary to remove the cap 25 and place the proper number of washers 24 under the head of the plug. The vent 38 has the effect ot relieving the pressure upon the under side of the piston so that the pressure becomes unbalanced and the piston will seat itself again. Also as soon as the weight of the water becomes removed from the upper side of the diaphragm 7, it will return to its normal osltion and the valve 19 will become closed. n connection with the o eration of the piston 37, attention is calle( to the fact that the area of this piston is greater than that of the upper end of the valve 33.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-

1. A steam trap having a base, a body seated thereupon, a diaphragm disposed across said body and clamped between theV saine and said base so as to form a chamber therebelow within said base, a pilot valve mounted in the upper end oi said body, a suction tube extending down from said valve and into the interior of said body and pro- 1'ectinO to a )oint near said dia )lira m a- .l zu l J stem having a head adapted to close said pilot valve extending downwardly 1n said suction tube and attached to said diaphragm,

a main outlet valve from said body, a piston` adapted to raise said main outlet valve, and a pipe connection from said pilot valve to said main valve admitting water under said piston to raise said main valve.Y

2. A steam trap having a base, a body seated thereupon, a diaphragm disposed across said body and clamped between the same and said base so as to form a chamber therebelow within said base, a pilot valve' mounted in the upper end oi said body, a suction tube extending down from said valve and into the interior of said body and proiectinv to a point near said diaphragm, a stem .having a head adapted to close said pilot valve extending downwardly in said suction tube and attached to said diaphragm, a main outlet valve from said body, a piston adapted to raise said main valve outlet, and a pipe connection 'from said pilot valve to said main valve admitting water under said pistou to raise said main valve, said main valve having a swivel connection with said piston and having a helically iiuted stem adapted to be rotated by the current of escaping water at said valve.

3. A steam trap having a base, a body mounted thereupon, a diaphragm between said body and said base, a pilot valve adapted "to be opened by the downward movement of said diaphragm, a main valve through which the water escapes from said body, said valve having a helically iluted stem adapted to be rotated by the water in escaping, a piston having a swivel connection with said main valve, and means for admit ting Water to the underside of said piston Jfrom said pilot valve.

4. A steam trap having a body, a diaphragm therein, a pilot valve actuated by said diaphragm, a main valve past which the water from said body may flow, said main valve having a flute plug adapted to be rotated by the water in flowing past said main valve, a piston receiving the lower end oi said valve and of greater area than said valve, and a pipe connection leading to said piston and connecting with said pilot valve, said piston having a vent leading therethrough opening communication Jfrom the lower to the upper side thereof.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specii'ication in tne presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE lllCHAEL HILGER.

TWitnesses:

JAMES PnTERsEN, WM. J. HoL'roN. 

